NHTSA Complaint #10125456 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

I AM LEASING A FORD FREESTYLE. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WITH THE CHILD LOCK OFF, THAT THE REAR PASSANGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS THE DRIVER OR PASSANGE UNLOCKS THE DOORS WITH THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH AT ANY TIME - WITH THE MORTOR RUNNING, THE CAR IN PARK, OR THE MOTOR OFF AND THE CAR IN PARK. IF THERE SHOULD BE A CRASH OR BOTH THE FRONT DSEAT DRIVER AND PASSANGER BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE REAR SEAT PASSANGERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. THE WINDOWS ARE ELECTRIC WHICH WITH THE MOTOOR AND KEY IN OFF ARE INOPERABLE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY TELL US THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO ANY THING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN INTO THE COMPUTER AND CAN NOT FIND ANY WAY TO CHANGE THE WAY THE REAR DOORS OPEN. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN A FRONT END OR FRONT SIDE CRASH. I HAVE SENT A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE TO FORD THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE.